Top seeds for March 2026 Open

3lb

#1 Seed — The Wall PT2 (Shuffler / Overhead Hammersaw — Ben Hoxsie) The Wall PT2 is a shuffler-driven hammersaw that Ben describes as "nearly insurmountable when it works." With a 79% win rate across 39 fights and having proven that a 3lb hammersaw can win a dumpster, Ben is out to make history again in March.

#2 Seed — Chainsaw Kitty (4WD Vertical Spinner — Kezia Skye) A fast, hard-hitting 4WD vert with a golden dumpster and a legendary reputation, Chainsaw Kitty sits at 46 wins across 13 events with an intimidating 83% KO rate on wins. Driver Kezia Skye has been a fixture at NHRL, and if she wins, says she'd spend the prize money on... a bigger Chainsaw Kitty.

#3 Seed — IMPAKT (4WD Drum/Beater — Lars Elliott) IMPAKT puts over a third of its weight into its weapon system, and the numbers back it up: 30 wins from 40 fights with a 70% KO rate. Driver Lars Elliott just got his driver's license and is coming off NHRL Finals hungry to prove IMPAKT belongs at the top.

12lb Class

#1 Seed — Pramheda (4WD Vertical Spinner — Zack Knight) The reigning 2025 12lb World Champion, Pramheda is the most experienced bot in the field with 50 wins across 20 events and 37 KOs — the pink vert that just keeps winning. Driver Zack Knight makes his 2026 debut here, and he's coming to defend his crown.

#2 Seed — Robo-Cat (4WD Vertical Spinner — Ben Haas) A legacy bot passed down through generations of UC combat robotics, Robo-Cat carries the weight of an entire program with 15 wins and a 73% KO rate. Ben Haas helps run the UC combat robotics team and says a big prize win would go straight back to building the program.

#3 Seed — Void (4WD Vertical Spinner — Trevor Sommer) Void runs a powerful purple hub motor vert with 16 wins and a solid 75% KO rate across 7 events. Driver Trevor Sommer has been fighting robots since 2014 and jokes he now uses the robot to fight instead of his body after wrestling injuries ended that chapter.

30lb Class

#1 Seed — ARES (4WD Drum/Beater — Ryan Duarte) ARES stands out with a 71% win rate and a remarkable 83% KO rate on wins — and the team through-hardens their own weapon in-house, a rare touch of craftsmanship. Driver Ryan Duarte, a Mechanical Engineering student, is excited to debut ARES with contributions from some new faces on the team.

#2 Seed — Waddles! (2WD Modular — Connor Howard) Waddles! is a fully modular 30lb bot that can swap entire weapon systems, currently running both a vertical spinner and an undercutter. Connor Howard and Team WPI are coming back with a point to prove against what he calls "the most stacked 30lb field" yet.

#3 Seed — Deadrise (Treaded Vertical Spinner — Joe Copenhaver) Deadrise runs on tank treads with a massive weapon motor, and a leaner and meaner V3 is debuting here. Driver Joe Copenhaver, a DoD contractor who has assembled components that flew to Mars, says the big question for this event is whether the new build holds together under pressure.